Folding wheel chair



Oct. 12, 1937. H.v A. EVEREST ETAL. 2,095,411

FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR y Filed Feb. 11, 195s 3 Sheets-sheet 1 /m/emors H.Everest H f1/elm 1729.9,

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Oct. 12, 1937- 4 H. A.EVEREST ET AL.

FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR Filed Feb. 11, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 12, 1937.H. A. Evi-:REST Er A1. 2,095,411

` FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR Filed Feb. 11.*, 1936 -3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CilPatented Oct. 12,-1937! PATENT oFFlcE A 2,095,411 FOLDING WHEEL CHAIRHerbert A. Everest and Harry C. Jennings,

Los Angeles, Calif'.

Application February 11, 1936, Serial No. 63,340

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to a folding wheel chair, this beingA of a type inwhich the leg framework carrying the wheels may be collapsed or foldedinwardly to make a narrow and compact folded chair for either storage ina room or for carrying in an automobile.

In this type of chair, our invention comprehends as one of its mainobjects a simplification of the folding framework, using preferablymetal rods and tubes. Hence, by our construction, one of the features ofthe frame is that it provides on each side of the chair a front and arear ieg.

The front and rear leg on each side are con-- nected by a pivoted orhinged member, from which diagonal intersecting braces extend`upwardly'to a sliding horizontal member, this being mounted to slide andbe guided in the upper portion of the front and rear legs. `With thisconstruction' the seat is formed of fabric looped between the verticallysliding members, such seat folding when the twoside legs are shiftedtogether, asalso does a foot rest or step which is connected to thefront to rear bottom member.

f .A fabric back connected to an upward extension of the rear legs maylalso thus be extended or folded, Athereby enabling the sides of thechair to be spread apart for use of the chair, or to be collapsedtogether. l

- Another object and feature of our invention is forming the frame withcertain loose connections, especially at the bottom front to'rearmember, so that when the chair is provided with four wheels,

that is, two propelling wheels at the front 'and two caster wheels atthe back, this exlble connection allows a certain warping or twisting of-the side members of the chair frame to accommodate the passage ofwheels over bumps or 'depressions in a road or other surface on whichthe vehicle is used. One of the vobjects of. this f flexibleconstruction is to maintain both driving wheels always in contact withthe oor or ground and thus enable the occupant of the chair to propelit.

l In wheel chairs of the typen which the occupant may propel the chairby actuating the driving wheels,.it is anobjectionable feature in most`of the designs that there are large driving wheels.

The periphery of such wheels extends so 'far forward of the front leg,and hence of the rfront of the chair, that it is dicult for an occupantto wheel the chair close to a table, a desk.' a vehicle, or other chairor couch towhich he may desire'to move.

A further object and feature of our inventioxnA therefore. is formingthe driving wheels ofthe chair of smalldiameter, preferably about thesame size as the caster wheels.

The form of drive is by means of a flexible chain or belt operating overa sprocket or pulley directly connected to each driving wheel. The 5belt then operates over a horizontal guide 1ocated immediately below thearm rest of the chair, the guide having inturned ends so that theoccupant of the chair may manipulate the belt along the guide frames oneach side and thus l0 transmit motion to the. driving wheels forpropeiling the wheel chair.

A further detail feature of our invention relates to the construction ofthis driving belt, such being made of rubber with a fabric incorporatedthere- 15 in, and being channel shaped in -cross-section to loop overthe horizontal guides. This construction prevents the occupant, ofthechair from having the fingers caught between the beit and the guide. Asan alternative construction the 20 belt may be formed with a sprocketchain, generally incorporated'therein; Another detail feature ofimprovement is in having the back rest, which is formed of fabric,readily disconnectible from the back posts of the' 25 chair to enable aperson to enter and leave the chair from the rear. That is, on enteringthe chair a person progresses foot first over the seat from a bed,couch, or the like, and in leaving the chair the occupant may moverearwardly from 30 the seat through the open back lof the chair, drawinghis feet over the seat of the chair.

Our irvention is illustrated in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which, Y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the metalA 35 frame of the chair whenin its expanded position for use;

Figure 2 is aside elevation of a completed chair when expanded inposition for use; l

Figure 3 is a front elevation taken in thedirec- 40 tion of the arrow 3of Figure 2;

Figure 4-is`a view similar toFigure 3 but showing the chair collapsed inits folded position Figure 5 is Va horizontal section on the line 5--5fol Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows 45 with parts omitted toshow the attachment of the line 6--6 1-1 of Fig. 2 withlparts omittedshowing the upper guide or emble wheel driving chain.

Referringrst to the construction of the frame of the chair, such framebeing .designated generally by the numeral II: This frame is conablyvertical.

structed of two similar side frames I2 and each side frame has a frontleg I3, this being prefer- There is also a rear leg I4 having an uppersection I5 parallel to the upper portion I6 of the front leg. Each rearleg has a rearwardly Adiverging lower portion I 6. and a lowerprojecting vertical end I1 having a collar I8 at the bottom. These legmembers are preferably all made of metal tubing. There is an arm restbar I9 on each side which is formed integral with the front leg, havinga right angularbend 20 at the front. Rear chair posts 2| extend upwardlyfrom the rear legs and preferably incline slightly rearwardly as shownin Figure 2. The rear end 22 of the arm rest has a curved end cut topartly encircle the tube forming the integral rear legs and the integralposts 2|, the arm rests being secured by welding, brazing or the like tothe combined rear legs and posts. The bottom bar or rail construction 25employs a Atube 26 at the forward portion, such tube being rigidlysecured by Welding or the like to the lower end of the front leg I3,this lower end being cut in a partial circle to encircle the tube 26,which tube is closed with a cap 28. A pintle .rod 29 fits in tube 26 andalso ln a rear tube section 30. The rear bar assemblyA has a rear curvedtube 3| connected at 32 to the short rear tube 30 and at 33 to the lowerportion of the rear leg I4 preferably adjacent the junction point of thevertical section I1 and the rearwardly extending portion I6. T'his tube3| preferably forms a bend developing a right angular turn that is forthe purpose of accommodating the rear caster' wheels of the chair, theassembly of which is described hereunder.

An improved feature of our chairis that we employ only two diagonalbraces 35. Each of these braces has a lower portion 36 and an upperportion 31 connected together by a longitudinal hinge pin or a bolt 38.These intersecting braces are preferably formed of tubes. The` bottomvof the lower portion 36 of each brace is rigidly connected to a sleeve39, such sleeve being fitted over the rod 29 connecting the tubes 26 and30. This sleeve is shorter in length than the exposed portion of the rod29, leaving a ring clearance indicated at 4|! and 4|. wise movement ofthe sleeve 39 on the rod 29.

The seat bar 45 comprises two short end bars 46 and 41 each having arounded cut-out end 48, such end being adapted to partly encircle theupper portion I6 of the front leg I3 for the tube 46 and the upperportion I5 of the rear leg I4 for the short tube 41. Each of these shortbars 46 and 41 has a pivot pin 49 and a swivel sleeve 50 ls iltted overthe pivot pins. Such swivel sleeve is rigidly connected at 5| to theupper portion 31 of each cross bar. There is a snug t at the joint 52ofthe sleeve 50 and the short bars 46 and 41. Thisconstruction permitsthe side frames of the chair to be spread apart, as shown in Figure l.or folded or collapsed as shown in Figure 4. In this manipulation of theframe the lower sleeve 39 swivelson the rod 29 of the bottom rail 25.The sleeve 50 also has a swivel action on the pins 49, but causes anupand down movement of the short bars 46 and 41, and thus of the seat bars45, this sliding motion being on the parallel sections I6 of the frontleg I3, and I5A of the rea leg I4.

The chair is provided with a fabric seat 5,5% which is preferably madewith upper and lower This allows a slight lengthfabric sections 56 and51 looped over the seat bars 45, and havingla split 58 in the lower foldof the 'I'he removable seat back 60 has two upright metal strips 6I, andto each strip adjacent the bottom there is a hook 62, such hook engagingthe rear leg I4l at the upper section I5 preferably immediately belowtheconnection point 22 of the arm rest I9 allowing a suiilcient distanceon the portion I5 for the upward movement of the seat bar 45 whenfolding the chair. A removable plug 63 is fitted in the upper end ofeach back post 2| of the chair. This plug fits through an eye 64. sucheye beingattached to the top of the metal strips 6I as indicated at 65.vA fabric back 66 is secured to the metal strips and is thus stretched toa desired tension between the two posts of the back whenI the chair` isin its expanded position. When it is desired to remove the fabric seatback, the plug 63 may be removed, the eye 64 being disconnected from theplugs. This disconnects the upper portion of the fabric. The lower hooks62 may be disconnected either by stretching the fabric 66 of the seatback, or slightly collapsing the chair. This allows entire removal ofthe fabric back of the seat, leaving the chair unobstructed between theposts and the arm rests so that a person may move into the chair, forinstance, from a couch or bed, by having the back of the chair wheeledadjacent said bed, the person moving into the chair feet foremost intothe seat. The flexible seat back may then be reattached to the post 2|.'

'I'he foot rest or step 10 employs preferably two rigid boards 1I, eachhaving `hinged straps 12 secured at the outer longitudinal edge. Thesestraps t over the tube 26 in front of the front legs I3. These strapswith the side edge of the boards 1I thus form in effect apair of hingeeyes which may be inserted on the tube 26 after removal of the cap 28,which cap may then be replaced. The step boards are connected by acenter hinge 13 allowing the boards to occupy the horizontal positionof. Figure' 3 with the chair extended, or to fold upwardly as shown inFigure 4 when the chair is collapsed.

The chair is mounted on wheels, in which the front wheels 15 are thedriving wheels and the -rear wheels 16 the caster wheels. 'I'hese latterare of the usual type and fitted in the vertical section I1 of the lowerend of the rear legs I4. The wheels may swivel .to occupy the positionshown in Figure 2 or to t underneath the rear curved tubes 3|.

The driving connection for the front wheels employs an axle 11 securedto the front legs I3 preferably slightly above the bottom rail or bar25. The axle hub 18 is elongated and has a pneumatic tire Wheel 13 onthe outside and preferably a sprocket or pulley on the inside, that isbetween the wheel and the side frame of the chair. .A guide bar 8| hasdownwardly curved ends 82 and 83, these ends being secured as indicatedat 84 to the front leg I3 at the I4. The point of attachment must be solocated that the seat bars 45 may. slide up and 75 down.y The bar 8l isspaced from the side frame by horizontal portions .85 so thatthere is ahorizontal section 86 of the bar located slightly below each arm restI9v and on the outside of such bar.

A sprocket chain 81 is preferably of the roller type and is. imbedded ina resilient rubberband 88, such band having a deep slot 89 sumcient toform van adequate cover for the sprocket chain and also to extend overthe sides of the horizontal section 86 of the guide bar 3|. The sprocketchain with the rubber covering -band thus has a horizontal section 9|, adownward lead 92, and an upward lead 93, the sprocket chain and the bandengaging the sprocket whe 80 and each of the driving wheels. f

Themanner of propelling the chair is by the occupant 'of-the' chairgrasping the horizontal section 9i of the rubberband and thrusting thisin the direction of the arrow 9d. This rotates the driving wheels in'the proper direction to move the wheel chair forward. The reversemovement is by pulling on the upper horizontal band section, :whichcauses the chair to move rearwardly. The steering is accomplished bymoving one of the propelling wheels faster than the other, or by movingoneI in a forward di.- rection and the other in a rearward direction. Itwill be noted by this construction that the front driving wheels arequite small, and hence the chair may be moved close to a table, desk,couch or a bed.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim: V

1. A folding chair having two side frames, each frame having a bottomrod forming at least part of a connectionbetween the front and rear endsof its frame, a vsleeve rotatably mountedV on each rod, a singlediagonal brace extending upwardly from each sleeve, the said bracesintersecting and being connected by a single hinge pin, the upper endofeach diagonal brace being connected to a seat bar, each seat bar havinga guiding connection at its ends with parallel portions of the upperpart of each side frame, the point ofconnection of the upper part ofeach brace to the seat bar being substantially midway between the saidparallel portions of the frame.

2. A folding chair as claimed in claim 1, a wheel connected to theforward portion of each frame, one or more wheels connected to the rearparts of the frames, means to confine each sleeve on the rod on which itis mounted whereby each sleeve independent of the other may have aslight sliding movement longitudinal of the rod to permit a slighttwisting of, one frame relative to the other to maintain both of thefront wheels in contact with the ground.

3. A folding `chair having two side frames each with a front and a rearleg, the upper portions of said legs. being cylindrical and parallel, abottom rod forming at least part of the connection between the front andrear legs of each frame, a single diagonal brace having a pivotalconnection at its bottom to the said rod, said braces intersecting andbeing connected by a portions'of the front and rear legs, whereby onfolding and extending the chair each sleeve connected to a brace rotateson the short bars and said bars have a vertical sliding movement onthefront and rear legs of each frame.

4. A folding chair as claimed in claim 3, a front wheel connected to thefront leg of each side iframe, one or more wheels connected to the rearlegs of the frames, the pivotal connection i of the lower end oi eachbrace to the bottom rod comprising a second sleeve rotatable on saidrod, means to conne eachsecond sleeve to a slight sliding motion on therod, the said rod having a forward extensionv beyond" thev front legs ofeach frame, a foot rest hingedly connected to each extension, the .footrest being formed in two parts hinged together whereby when the chair isextended the portions of the foot rest operate to hold the sideV framesof the chair apart, and the sliding movement 'of the second sleeveconnected to the lower part of each brace permits a slight twisting ofthe frame to main- Vtain both of the front wheels incontact with theground.` t

5. A wheel chair having two side with a front and a, rear leg connectedby an arm rest, each front leg being verticalfan axle attached to eachfront leg and having a wheel thereon, each rear leg having a rear wheelconnectedl thereto, each side frame having a rod forming part of aVconnection between the front Y and rear legs, a. .sleeve rotatably andslidably movable on said rod, a. cross brace extending upwardly fromeach sleeve, the cross braces being pivoted together, a. seat barslidably mounted on each frame, the upper end of each cross brace beingconnected to a seat bar, the said seat bars forming a support for theseat whereby the chair may be collapsed with the side frames movabletowards each other, the sliding movement of the said vsleevefon the saidrod permitting a. slight twisting of the frame to maintain both drivingwheels-on the ground when the chair is in itsv extended position. v

6. A folding wheel chair having two side frames, each frame having a.bottom assembly including a front' straight portion and a rear frames,each upwardly curved portion, a sleeve rotatably l mounted on a straightportion of each bottom assembly, a single diagonal Vbrace extendingupwardly from each sleeve, the said bracesintersecting and beingconnected by a single hinge pin, the upper end of each diagonal bracebeing connectedto a seat bar, each seat bar having a 'guide connectionat its ends with parallel portions of the upper parts of each sideframe, the point of connection of the upper part of each brace to theseat bar being substantially midway between the said parallel portionsof the frame, a front wheel connected to the front portion of each sideframe and a rear caster wheel con--V nected to the rear portion of eachside frame', the upwardly curved part of each bottom assembly beingadapted to accommodate the swivelling of the caster wheel connected toits frame.

'1. A folding wheel chair as claimed in claim 6, the single hinge pin'forming a center relative to which the two side frames may twist as toeach other whereby both -of the front wheels may be retained on theground if one of the four wheels engages an elevation or is over adepression in a road.

8. A folding wheel chair as claimed in claim 6, means to conne eachsleevevon its lower frame assembly whereby each sleeve may have a slightsliding movement longitudinally to permit a slight twisting of one framerelative to the other, the

single hinge pin forming a, center of twist of' one frame relative tothe other to maintain both of the front wheels in contact with theground should the ground be irregular.

' 9. A Wheeled chair having two side frames, each frame having a. bottomassembly including a straight portion, a seat connecting the sideframes, a spacing device securing said frames in spaced relation, saiddevice having a sliding part thereof mounted on the straight portion ofthe bottom assembly of each side frame with means providing for alimited longitudinal sliding movement thereof along the said straightportion, a pair of front wheels connected one to each of thes'ideframes, one or more Wheels HERBERT A. EVEREST. HARRY C. JENN'INGS.

